I just got done buidling the AFV club M59, and am painting it now. I have two rather dumb questions but hopefully someone will enlighten me.
1) I built mine in the towing position; thought the diorama potential is great. But I don't know what type of vehicle(s) typically towed this gun; can someone telll me?
2) The gun is very large. When I compare it to the 155 MM Academy M12 I built a few months ago, this looks like it is 1/24th scale in comparison. Is the scale correct on the AFV kit, and is the size differential between the two weapons legitimate?
Thank you for the information!

During WW2, the US used the M4 HST and the 7.5ton Mack NO truck to haul the M1 155mm Long Tom (M59 was a postwar change).

It's correctly scaled. Just because it is a 155mm cannon like the one found on the M12 (which was the 1917A French derived GPF), doesn't mean that they need to be the same size.

The M4 HST has been announced by Hobby Boss and the only Mack NO is by Azimut of France and Wespe of Romania.

Pictures of the 155mm gun, the Mack NO and the M4 HST can be found here:

http://www.tanxheaven.com/referencepictures.htm

As Roy says, the size is correct. Actually, the cradle on the AFV Club Long Tom is 8mm too short. The M1/M59 was bigger and beefier to last longer and was an improvement over the M12. For a big gun, check out the AFV Club M40 SP Howitzer. It has the same cradle and barrel as the M1/M59 (also 8mm too short). I am finishing up mine now. It is really nice. Should be posting some pics by the end of the week.

Thank you for the info. That M4 HST is one cool vehicle; I'd love to model it. Would it have been concievable to have a Dragon Wagon tractor towing this thing, also?
I did note, by the way, how much beefier the cradle was. When I built the M12 I thought that the way the cradle was designed and mounted that they probably had tons of problems with cracking. I'd have brought my Lincoln welder along.

Your question about mating the M26 Pacific Tractor (from Dragon Wagon) to the M1 155mm gun was frequently asked as both kits debuted about the same time. however, units using the Long Tom wouldn't have had access to such a specialized vehicle such as the Pacific tractor. The Macks and M4s were readily deployed with each unit that used the Long Tom.

It's like using a retinal scalpel to cut up some spam for a sandwich. LOL

The M1917 155mm cannon of the M12 was an excellent weapon. The only reason more M12s weren't fielded was that the US supply of them was completely depleted. This led to the development of the M1 (M59) 155mm Long Tom.

THe Long Tom was great too. Read this account of how one unit of M40s wore out dozens of Long Tom barrels during its tour in Korea.

http://www.koreanwar-educator.org/memoirs/clark_jimmie/index.htm

By the way, US artllery assest during WW2 are universally regarded as one of the best elements of US power. Accurate, close at hand, effective.

Thank you, Roy!

Just a minor point -- it isn't a howitzer.

The AFV Club kit doesn't model well in towed position. Part of it is fit of bogie assembly and rest is that the model is simply more correct in firing position -- some parts on bogies, carriage/mount, and limber are wrong ...

Check my Gallery (Incoming Campaign) for pictures of one I did ... (although I didn't catch the 8mm error Gino mentions, maybe next time) ...

PS, let me also recommend the Masters Production update set ...

John

another option that was confirmed by vets I know who served with the 1st AD and the 34th ID is that the turretless M10 (M39?...sorry, the designator escaped me right now) was used for a short time to pull M1's as they were short M4's and MACK NO's. Something like a 2-4 week time period. And this was for the "long tom" not the break apart 155mm/203mm versions that were also hauled around.

That's the M35 you're referring to. The M33 (based on the M31 ARV) was also used in an ad hoc role. Both of these were originally meant for the 240mm cannon.